David Byrne Bike Racks Go From Sketch to Reality

Is there anything this city won't do for renaissance man David Byrne? The former Talking Head has been helping out with the DOT's search for new bike rack designs, and recently got inspired to sketch some imaginary bike racks named for New York neighborhoods and locations. Then, voila; David's dream is manifest, as he explains on his blog: "To my surprise, [the DOT] responded by saying, 'If you make these we'll put them up.' Holy Moses! I was over the moon — what happened to the legendary red tape and years of bureaucratic haggling I was supposed to go through?"

Byrne, an avid cyclist who's admitted to eating pavement while biking under the influence, says the locations the DOT chose were perfect: "Wall Street for the dollar sign! And Bergdorf Goodman for the giant high heel!" The whimsical yet functional racks, which were fabricated with money from PaceWildenstein Gallery, will be up eleven months, after which the gallery will sell them off. The Times ran a long profile on Byrne the biker recently, and here are the finalists for the city's design competition for the next generation of permanent bike racks.

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By John Del Signore in Arts & Entertainment on August 20, 2008 3:37 PM

Comments [rss]

PBRK

Grab one now before his studio sells them in a year.

NannyState

While we're hanging out in the Eighties, I think Kenny Scharf and Rodney Alan Greenblatt need to chime in here...oh, and paging the Keith Haring Foundation...

cjp42

"Are people going to know they're bike racks?"

if it doesn't say "no bikes" in NY, its a bike rack.

dandeluca

Fantastic -- there's no reason not to do this. Even if they're not the most efficient racks, it adds some personality to the city. And it will make the idea of bike parking more friendly, more community-oriented, less of a dreary pain for all involved.

Guest

I'm totally chaining my bike to the naked girl.

Also, the tall ones are still useful if you stack your bike on the otherpersons bike.

Ethan

Yay David! Thanks for making something cool!

WorksInDUMBO

These are awesome!

On a related note, I filled out the online form asking the DOT to install additional bike racks in front of my office building about a month ago--and lo and behold, I came in to work today and saw that they DID IT!! I couldn't believe my eyes! (thanks, Gothamist for posting the link to their site)

schadenfreudian mensch

"money from PaceWildenstein Gallery"

As in the Bride of Wildenstein fame?

robingee

Cute! Are people going to know they're bike racks?

drewo

Attractive designs - but not sure these are practical. Looks like some of the taller "racks" are only good for one bike. Lots of wasted material there (artwork aside).

ny2102

DOT's getting it done. Good job guys! Just wish these were permanent.

zoofroy

Where is the mud flap girl? In front of a strip club? These rock!

sinisterteashop

What a twit. Those bike racks are like Mark Kostabi's idea of a Cow Parade.

Alex

It seems like the DOT is the best agency at getting shit done. With the added bike lanes, summer streets, retooling Madison Square and others, cutting lanes out of Broadway in Midtown. These new bike racks are really cool.